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2

Continued

Plebiscite

fion will be held in December
to elect a mayor and six alder-
men to North Vancouyer’s first
Gemocratic civic government in
more than a decade. -

“Since 1933, North Wancouver
has been under a commissioner
end the results are plainly dis-
cernible,” said Saunders. “Roads
and highways are badly main-
tained and for the most part
unpaved and sidewalks have

fallen into disrepair. Transporta- -

tion is a disgrace. The utter
lack of town planning has re-
sulted in an uneven develop-
ment, making the maintainence
of the city a disproportionate
burden on small property own-
ers and ratepayers.

“The early speculations of
conscienceless real estate sharks,
who sold plots of land without
regard fcr transportation, plan-
ming or development, imposed
such a financial burden on tax-
payers that the city went into
receivership. The main concern
ef the commissioner has been to
protect the interests of the bond-
holders so that the welfare of
the citizens as a whole has been
neglected.”

The immediate issue before the
citizens of North Yancouver, he
believes, is to regain democratic
control of their own civic affairs.
Onee this has been accomplished,
they will be faced with the issue,
now being raised, of the form of
that government.

Since the widespread demand
i6r restoration of civic govern-
‘pecame evident plans have been
advanced, through the ratepay-
ers’ association, which while con-
ceding abolition of the commis-
sionership are in reality de-
signed to enable certain inter-
ests to retain control of the city’s
affairs.

One such plan provides for a
city council and city manager.

“The city manager plan had its
erigin in certain cities in the
United States, where it was or-
iginated by big businessmen to
circumvent self-government. It is
utterly foreign to Canadian
municipal life. In 1938 an entire
slate running in Vancouver on a
city Manager program were
roundly defeated,’ Saunders ex-
plained.

_ Obviously the form of govern-
ment taken in North Vancouver
should follow the pattern of
municipal government through-
out the provinee. Therefore the
North Vancouver LPP branch is
urging citizens to press for an
clective mayor and council.

“If cilizens are to participate io
the fullest extent in town plan-
ning and the manifold tasks of
establishing a modern and en-
ierprising city, then it is essen-
tial that civic franchise should
be established on the broadest
basis. Yet in this coming plebis-
cite only 3,400 of an adult popu-
lation at between 13,000 and
14,060 are entitled to vote.”

Saunders commented on a plan
recently advanced by Commis-
sioner Vance for postwar civic
improvements.

“All plans for improvement of
the city must rest for their suc-
cess on the retention of present
industries and the establishment
of new industries,’ he said.

“A progressive administration
can do much in the campaign
to Keep the shipbuilding industry
working in the postwar period.
A municipal airport, which is
among V ance’s recommenda-
tions, is a worthy project ana
should be pushed through.

“Under progressive govern-
ment, through. establishment of

paved highways and communica-

=

Since the Portuguese Government granted the Allies facilities in the Azores, there have
been interesting developments, in the U-boat war. A joint statement issued by Prime
Minister Churchill and President Roosevelt said: “By means of aircraft operating from
the Azores we ,have been able to improve the protection to our convoys and to dim-

inish the area in which enemy U-boats were free from attention by our forces.

Picture

shows some of the gasoline, required for use by the Allied aireraft operating from the
Azores, being unloaded at a transit camp.

tions centers and removal of
toll charges from the First and
Second Narrows bridges, there
is no reason why many new in-
dustries should not choose sites
Gn the North Shore. Many sites
are available, but transportation
costs to and from Vancouver are
now a big obstacle.

Hneouragement of industry in
North Vancouver should be ac-
companied by a parallel effort
to provide the cultural, educa-
tional and entertainment facili-
ties coinciding with the city’s
need, according te Saunders
The major part of the payroll
of North Vancouver is now spent
im Vancouver. If the facilities
were established, much of this
money would remain here as a
source of income for the broad
program so essential if North
Vancouver is to become a mod-
ern city.

The present streetear system
in North Vancouver, he believes,
is absolutely imadequate and in-
capable of servicing the people
of the city. It would be impos-

sible to provide a proper trans-
portation system on the basis of
any extensions or improvements
that might be made to the pres-
ent system.

The LPP in North Vancouver
is advocating scrapping of the
Present obsolete service and es-
tablishment of a modern bus sys-
tem under municipal ownership
as the most serviceable and eco-

~ homic system suited to the city’s

needs. This is seen as a post-
War necessity to be instituted
immediately after wartime gas

restrictions are lifted.

“The future of North Vancou-
ver may well rest on the deci-
sion made by voters in this pleb-
iscite,” Saunders added. “With
the commissionership abolished
the people will once more have
€@ voice in their own affairs. The
way will be open to elect a pro-
gressive city council, a council
determined io retain and estab-
lish industry, and to look after
the educational, social and cul-
tural needs of the people which
have so long been neglected.”

Miners Waive
Veterans’ Dues

At a district board meeting here last week, the Interna-
tional Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers CUMMsSWw)
decided to accept returned soldiers without any charge for
initiation. Initiation fees range from $2 to $10. This action
follows the request made last month by CIO President Philip
Murray asking all CIO affiliates to waive initiation fees as
part of the protection offered to servicemen.

The board also decided to
publish its Paper twice
monthly. The first issue will ap-

own

pear next month.
Boundaries of the union’s jur-

isdiction now embrace all Brit-
ish Columbia and the Yukon,

. with 23 locals established. Har-

vey Murphy, international rep-
resentative, told the board meet-

ing, “Organization is just about
complete.”

First agreements with IUM-
MSW were signed about one
year ago and are now due for
renewal, Murphy said, adding,
“There will be some new

clauses in the new agreements
we will present to the manage-
ments.”

Murphy had just returnea from
Dunean after
agreement with the Twin J cop-
per mine. This mine is a sub-
sidiary of Wartime Metals Cor-
poration, Montreal, which has
received a copy of the proposed
agreement for approval.

Two international board mem-
bers attended: Chase Powers of
San Francisco and Thomas Mur-
ray of Butte, Montana. Also
present were F. W. Henne, presi-
dent of Trail local; F,. J. Lind-

negotiating an

Say of Britannia; Harry Nichol-
son of Kimberley: Robert Foote
of Hedley: John Ogbourne of
Copper Mountain and George
Price, secretary of the Canadian

international office.

Aircraft —
Parley

Mecha:

Aeronautical

Lodge 756 is seeking a

tion-wide conference wi
will bring together repre:
tatives of labor, managen
and the government to —
cuss the future of the

G

eraft industry.
At the same time as the 1

couver lodge was drawing

this plan, the membership
Lodge 712, Montreal, was
dorsing a resolution to 1)

similar action, - although
had been no interchange of ic.
between the two unions, indi
ing the awareness of aire
workers right across Canada
the need for maintaining
huge industry after the war
The conference proposed
Lodge 756 would be called
Munitions Minister C. D. He
and would take place under
chairmanship. Officials of

federal and provincial govi
ments have been invited to |
tend, as well as representat
of management and all un
affected.

N.S. Yards Buil:
2,000 Vessels

HALIFAX, N.S.—A total of
craft ranging from 4.700
Steel cargo ships to fishing 4d
gers and patrol vessels |
built in Nova Scotia shipy |
during 1943. an increase of
over 1942, according to the
nual report tabled in the
vincial legislature.

Craft of all types built s '
the beginning of the war ¢£
led 1,960 with an additional
under construction, when
annual report was prepared. |

CLASSIFIED

A charge of 50 cents for each
insertion of five lines or less
with 10 cents for each additional
line is made for notices appear-
ing in this column. No notices
will be accepted later than Wea-

nesday midnight of the week: of

publication.

NOTICES

Regular meetings of the South
Vancouver LPP Branch are held
on the second and fourth Wed-
nesday of each month at Norquay.
Hall, Kingsway at Slocan.

: Regular meetings of the Hast-
ings East LPP Branch are held
at 8 p.m. on the first and third
Friday of each month at club

headquarters, 2443 East Hastings. —

_ Regular meetings of the South
Hill LPP Branch are held every
second and fourth Wednesday in
Horticultural Hall,.4ist Ave. and
Fraser, at 8 p.m.

Dancing every Saturday night,
9 p.m.; throughout the season at
Seymour Park (Swedish Park),
north end of Second Narrows
Bridge. Sponsored by the SDC.

Canadian Aid’ to Russia F 2
Auxiliary No. 1, wants sey }
and workers. Send used clot 4
of all kinds to 835 West Pen
MArine 2744. :

Regular meetings of the Ni
Vancouver LPP Branch are if
at 8 p.m. on the second
fourth Wednesday of each mc.
at 1320 Lonsdale Ave., North \ #
couver. = si

Spend a ees
PLEASANT VACATION
LODGE

; Selma Park, B.C. 2 :

G. NEAL sa i

formerly of Shelly Coffee S!#

Phone BAy. 64305Y
For Information ~

Vancouver Gity LLP membij
are asked to note that regu@
weekly meetings for those #@
swing shift are held every W
nesday, 1:30 p.m., at 531 Hom

Winning tickets in the No@&
Burnaby LPP draw were: Fi
prize, Girls? Shop, ticket |
221B; second prize, Bill! Mill
ticket No. 220D; third prize,
Davies, ticket No. 201C. i